Chapter 4 Another Way To Get Rid Of Her
“What… what did you just say?” Naomi asked, her voice cracking.
“You heard me right, you're getting married.” Meredith replied without flinching.
“No… You can't just…”
“You think I don't know you're three weeks gone, huh?”
“Three weeks… what do you mean?” Naomi's legs weakened, her lips trembling from fright.
“You're pregnant, I'm a woman and I know when something's up. You thought you could hide it?” She asked with a smirk on her face.
“Is that why you're arranging a marriage for me?”
“That's my number two reason, the videos are my number one reason. Don't worry, I didn't say a wimp to your father.” She winked. “Just do as I say and we'll be good.”
“I refuse, you want to cover up what you and your daughter did to me. Isabella drugged me that night and set me up with….”
“Oh shush, shut up and don't you call my daughter with your filthy mouth. You're useless already, you better get ready to be married to Mr. Benjamin Lee, cause who will believe a lady with a leaked sex tape and a pregnancy out of wedlock? Your father could disown you, you know that right?”
“Benjamin Lee? Oh no!” Naomi went on her knees, put her palms together and started pleading with tears streaming down her face. “Please, don't ruin my life any further by handing me over to that man.”
Meredith stared down at the girl she hated all her life, with scorn. She wished she had gotten rid of Naomi years ago when she had the chance, well luck was on her side.
“Accept the help I'm offering, you don't have a choice.”
Naomi bit her lip so hard that she could taste blood. “You call this help? You’re literally getting rid of me, which was all you ever wanted.”
Meredith shrugged. “Call it whatever you like. But if you don’t agree, this little escapade of yours will find its way to your father, the media, everywhere my dear. Now tell me, Naomi, would you love that?
She walked out of the room, leaving the distressed young lady.
Meredith played with the drive in her hands, quietly cursing Isabella in her mind for being too careless. She had kept the drive on her desk only for Isabella to smuggle it into her own room to watch.
She picked up her phone and dialled a number, “Hey, why is that man's face blurred in the video.”
“His face can't be revealed, that'll be risking my life.”
“Risking your life?”
“Yes, you've got what you need, which is the young lady by the way.”
“Yes, but…”
Beep! The call was cut from the other side.
“ Did he just hang up on me? Well I don't care.”
---
The next day, at noon.
Naomi sat on the living room sofa, her father has been out of the country for a business trip and she wasn't able to text or call him because Meredith seized her phone from the moment he left.
She was wearing one of Isabella's old dresses to look presentable and a little makeup on her beautiful face, yet she looked so ravishing.
Isabella sat across her, her legs crossed as if she owned the universe, she was scrolling through her phone and laughing at intervals at texts.
Meredith walked in with a man, no other than Mr. Benjamin Lee.
He was a well-known ruthless womanizer, old enough to be Naomi's father by the way.He wore a dark blue suit, very well-tailored. His hair was nearly combed and he was over six feet tall.
“Naomi, meet Benjamin Lee. Your Husband to be.” Meredith said, her gaze landing on Naomi.
Naomi gulped.
“She's beautiful, I can accept that.” Benjamin said, weighing her with his eyes.
“Excuse me?” Naomi asked in confusion. “Accept?”
“Be Quiet.” Meredith hissed, apologetically forcing a polite smile for Benjamin.
Benjamin scoffed and took a seat. “You'll be my wife, attend events with me and smile by my side. Nothing more, nothing less.” He crossed his legs and asked Meredith, “Does your husband know of this arrangement?”
“Don't worry, I'll take care of him.”
“Why would I marry someone I don’t even know?” Naomi asked, her pulse racing.
“Because…I'll protect you and make sure your little scandal never sees the light of the day.”
“What? She told you? Naomi asked in shock. “This is blackmail.”
“You don't have a choice, we're killing two birds with one stone.”
“How's that?”
“You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Become my wife and your scandal never sees daylight and we both win.”
“I don't have anything to win here.”
Isabella finally spoke up from her corner, pretending to sound helpful. “Naomi, think of this as an upgrade. You get to live in a penthouse, wear nice clothes and keep your dirty little secret buried. It does sound like a good deal to me, I'll take it if I were you.”
Naomi turned her head sharply toward her. “You caused this. Why am I the one to suffer.”
Isabella smiled sweetly. “Guilty as charged but you should be thanking me. I found you a rich husband.”
“I’d rather die than marry a man like…”
“Enough,” Meredith snapped. “We’ll start planning the engagement dinner.”
Benjamin stood, straightening his suit jacket. “I’ll send you dresses and jewelry tomorrow by seven.” His eyes met Naomi’s one last time, then he turned and left without another word.
---
That night, Naomi thought deep while laying on her bed. The events of the day running through her mind and remembering the fact that she was pregnant.
She doesn't know what Meredith will say to her Dad, but she's hoped Meredith will keep this mess away from him. Her Dad still cared deeply for her, just that he couldn't do much when Meredith was involved.
Marrying Benjamin would trap her in another kind of prison but if she refused, Meredith and Isabella would mess up her life which was almost done for by the way.
She thought of her mother, wishing she was still alive to protect her from all this. Her mother married for love, but here she was about to be sold off.
“I'm sorry, I'm deeply sorry mum.” Naomi weeped as she picked up her mum's picture. “You must be so disappointed. I don't know what to do.”
She dozed off while in tears.
“Naomi, how could you do this to me?” Mr. Jacob Woods asked, his voice thundering as he stormed into Naomi's room.
Naomi woke up startled, shocked and surprised. Her father was finally home.
